Pursuing higher education means spending large amounts of money while
forgoing opportunities to earn income, which can be a challenge for
many students. To determine how you can pay for your education, you
need to calculate your available funds, create a budget, and find a
school you can afford.Source of Funds
Few U.S. colleges and universities can offer financial aid to international students. Some scholarships and grants are available, however; one way to find funds is through Internet search engines such as International Education Financial Aid and FinAid.org. Keep in mind that any service that charges you money to find scholarships should not be trusted. If you are already interested in a specific college or university, check to see if that school provides scholarships, grants, or work study programs. You can also search for funds from your home government and private sponsors.If
you do not qualify for scholarships or cannot find other sources, you
and your family will be responsible for all of the costs of tuition,
transportation, housing, and living expenses during your stay in the
United States. According to NAFSA: Association of International
Educators, 81 percent of international undergraduate students in the
United States pay for their education through personal and family
sources. Create a Budget
The first step you should take in creating a budget is estimating how much money you will have available annually from all sources—scholarships, grants, work study, sponsors, and family contributions. Make sure your budget is complete by figuring everything you will need to live and study in the United States, not just tuition and room and board. Think about supplies you will need for your classes, including textbooks, a computer, paper and pens, and a backpack or other bag to carry your books. Also consider any personal grooming supplies you may need and the costs of laundry, transportation (including travel to and from the United States), medications, health insurance, and entertainment.
Public vs. Private
When deciding where to study, remember that, as a general rule, public universities will be less expensive than private universities. While international students pay the higher nonresident tuition rate at public universities, this rate is almost always lower than that of a private university. According to College Board's Trends in College Pricing 2004, the average tuition at a public university is $5,132; in comparison, tuition at a private university averages $20,082.
Community colleges, sometimes called junior colleges, are even more affordable than public four-year schools. Tuition at these schools averages around $2,000 annually, according to College Board and the National Center for Education Statistics. Community colleges offer basic courses and associate degrees; after studying at one of these schools for two years, you can transfer to a four-year school to complete your bachelor's degree.
Cost Estimates
Schools' Web sites should list tuition and housing cost information; start by going to the financial aid pages. If the Web site offers a search function, try entering the phrase “estimated student expenses”—this may take you directly to the school's cost estimations. If you cannot find cost information online, e-mail the university (the international student office and the financial aid office are good places to start) for the current costs.
